MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES CITYWIDE FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE AND NEW PLAN TO HELP DADS STAY ACTIVE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, June 20, 2010

"Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"Let me begin by wishing all the fathers out there a very
happy Father's Day. This is the one day of the year when millions of
children and adults in our city pause to recognize and thank the dads who have
helped shape their lives. Those of us who are lucky enough to have grown
up with a father know how invaluable their support can be.

"Unfortunately, about a third of the children in our city
are waking up this morning in a house without a father. Some of those
fathers may still be active in their children's lives, but sadly many are
not. For the past three months, our City's agencies have been working on
new ways to engage these fathers, so they can play a greater role in raising
their children. This is very important, because research shows that
children with two fully engaged parents have a much better shot at doing well in
school, avoiding teen pregnancy, overcoming poverty, and succeeding as adults.

"All told, 13 different City agencies - from the Health
Department to the Parks Department - have developed action plans to help fathers
connect to their children and fulfill their responsibilities as parents.
For example, the City's Department for the Aging will launch an
intergenerational mentoring program at our public hospitals to connect
fathers-to-be with experienced fathers and grandfathers. Our public
housing developments will open their community centers to dads and their kids
during special hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And our Department of
Correction will open new visiting centers with books, art materials, and toys so
incarcerated fathers can spend quality time with their children in kid-friendly
environments.

"Another way we're equipping fathers with the tools they
need is by combining higher education and job training programs with parenting
classes. The New York City Housing Authority and the City University of
New York are teaming up to offer pre-college development workshops and courses
for teenage youth and young fathers. CUNY is also developing a part-time
program for fathers that includes academic preparation, computer literacy, and
parenting and health workshops. And the City's Parks Department will begin
teaching the nationally recognized "Responsible Fatherhood" curriculum to all
young fathers enrolled in their transitional employment program.

"Overseeing all these efforts will be the City's
first-ever Fatherhood Services Coordinator. The Coordinator will
rigorously evaluate and advance the City's existing parenting programs, and help
our agencies develop more father-friendly policies. The goal of all this
work is to make sure that fathers know the important role they play, so they can
help us break the cycles that keep too many young people in our City from
fulfilling their dreams. It's never too late to be part of a child's
life. And while the responsibilities of fatherhood are great, the rewards
are greater still. So on this Father's Day, let's recommit ourselves to
strengthening the bonds of family and brightening the futures of millions of New
York City's children.